Fordable egg-crate.



No. 678,649. Patented July l6, l90l.

F. K). EDSON. FOLDABLE EGG CRATE.

(Application filed Dec. 17, 1900.)

v N o M o d e I 2 S h B 6 t 8 S h e e l l.

F. 0. EDSUN.

FOLDABLE EGG CRATE.

(Application flied Dec. 17, 1900.)

Patented luly l6. IQOI 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

(No Model.)

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FRANK C. EDSON, OF LEROY, NEW YORK.

FOLDABLE EGG-*CRATE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent NO. 678,649, dated July 16, 1901. Application filed December 17, 1900. Serial No. 40,202. (No model.)

To ctZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, FRANK C. EDsON, a citi zen of the United States, residing at Leroy, in the county of Genesee and State of New York, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Foldable Egg-Crates, of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to improvements in foldable egg-crates.

' One object of myinvention isto provide a construction which when in normal or eggcarrying position will be held against collapsiug on the lines of its folds and which will retain the contents in proper position, but which is capable of being folded into a compact form for shipping purposes, the folding movements being arranged in such manner that the cells and trays necessary for the proper carrying of the eggs will be retained within the crate.

A further object is to provide a foldable crate with braces intermediate the ends and sides of the crate.

A further object is to provide a false bottom or a false top, or both, each carried by and foldable with the crate, the top being removably secured in position, said top and bottom forming supports for the cells and trays when the crate is in either its expanded or folded positions.

A further object is to provide a construction which is neat and attractive in appearance, durable in construction, which can be readily operated and manipulated, and which can be made at a low cost.

To these and other ends, the nature of which will be readily understood as the invention is hereinafter explained, said invention consists in the improved construction and combination of parts hereinafter fully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings, in which similar numerals of reference indicate similar parts in all of the views, Figure 1 is a perspective view showing my crate in expanded posit-ion, the top being shown as partially raised. Fig. 2 is a top plan view showing the crate folded, the cells and trays being removed for the purpose of clearness. Fig. 3 is a similar View looking from the bottom. Fig. 4 is a bottom plan view of the crate expanded and showing the cells in position, the trays being located at the points where they are held when the crate is shipped in folded position.- Fig. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken on one side of the central plate or division and showing the cells in position, also showing the false top and bottom. Figs. 6 to 10 showfragmentary views of different portions and details of the crate.

So far as I am aware the construction and arrangement of foldable egg-crateshas not been such as would enable the use of the ordinary foldable egg'cel'ls and retain the cells and trays in the crate when the latter is folded, so that each crate will while folded still carry the necessary cells and trays to enable the shipper to pack another consignment, having no other packing-means than that carried by the crate. This is due to the fact that no provision is made for retaining the folded cells, together with the trays, in position when the crate is folded to prevent their becoming lost. I am aware that special constructions in which the cells form parts of the structure have been provided; but such constructions are cumbersome and heavy and make a crate when folded of bulky appearance, as well as requiring special care in folding the crate. In the present invention the crate is formed and arranged to be folded in such manner that the usual or any preferred form of cells and trays can be used so long as they are foldable, which cells are carried by the crate .when expanded in the usual manner and readily removable and which when the crate is being folded will fold therewith and be held therein during shipment ready to be removed for purposes of refilling the crate. This result is due to the provision of means carried by the crate which will form automatically on the folding of the crate a protecting and retaining agency for the cells as well as the trays which are used therewith.

In the accompanying drawings, 1 designates the crate, formed with sides 2 3 and ends 4 and 5. These are hingedly connected,

as at 6, by suitable means at the inner meeting edges of these parts in order that there may be a folding movement tending to bring the sides toward each other, as shown in Figs.

2 and 8, in which position there are but two thicknesses to the fold, and the length of the folded crate is equal to that of one side and end. .To accomplish this, the meeting edges do not overlap, and hence the hinge connection forms the only brace or support at the corners of the crate. The sides are of a less height than the ends, but are flush therewith at the top, and there is thereby formed a space at the bottom which is filled contiguous to the ends by strips 6 6, which are secured to the ends, as shown in Figs. 2, 3, t, and 8. Said strips, together with the lower edges of the ends, form what might be termed the feet of the crate in expanded position and also serve as stiffeners, inasmuch as the sides rest thereon, and thereby taking the weight thereof from off of the hinged connections. Said strips also serve another purpose, as hereinafter described. The upper edge of the ends is provided with handle-strips 7, which extend outwardly from the face of the ends and also extend above the edge of the ends, as shown. These strips not only serve as handles, but also form protecting means when the crate is folded in that they practically lie in a plane coincident with the top and bottom, and thereby prevent a tendency of these latter to be sprung out of position.

Hingedly connected at the upper edge of the side 3 is the top 8, of a length equal to the distance between the outer faces of the ends, fitting between the strips 7 7, and of a width equal to the distance between the outer faces of the sides. The thickness of the top is less thanthe distance of the projecting portion of the strips 7, so that when said top is seated in position to close the crate there is a projecting flange on opposite ends of the top, formed by the strips 7. The outer surface of the top is provided with suitable bolts 9,which are adapted to enter openings 10, formed in the strips 7, as shown in Fig. 9. These bolts are preferably spring-bolts, and, if desired, a suitable recess may be formed in the top, as shown in Fig. 6, to allow of a ready grasping of the bolt by the operator. It will thus be seen that the top when locked in position by the bolts extends over the top edges of both sides and ends, thereby effectually preventing any relative movement thereof.

11 designates the bottom, which is hingedly connected to the lower portion of the side 2 and is of a length less than the length of the top and is adapted to fit between the inner faces of the strips 6, as shown in Figs. 1 and 4. The bottom is provided with lookingbolts similar to those carried by the top, adapted to enter recesses 12, formed in the strips 6 6. (Shown in Fig. 8.) It will be seen that while the top extends over both the side and end upper edges the bottom extends over only the side edges, the strips 6 6 serving as positive abutments to prevent the collapsing of the crate when the bottom is in its closed position.

Removably secured to the sides and midway of the ends of the crate is the central I the purpose.

plate or division 13, adapted to divide the crate into two compartments. The division is formed of suitable material and has formed thereon vertically-extendin g beads for the reception of locking-pintles 14, as shown in Fig. 7. Suitable recesses 15 are formed in the division for the reception of screw-eyes 16, mounted in the sides, and through which the pintles are adapted to be passed. This mounting of the division 13 not only serves to hold the division substantially rigid, but at the same time permits of a relative pivotal movement of the pintles and screw-eyes, allowing the division to be folded with the crate and insuring that no bulging of the sides can take place, as well as retaining the cells in their respective apartments when the crate is folded and also aiding in causing the cells to fold when the crate is being folded. V

As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the top and bottom of the crate fold outwardly and in folded position extend parallel with the sides, to which they are attached. There is therefore formed on opposite sides of the crate when folded protecting means for the sides and ends consisting of the top and one of the strips 7 and the bottom and the other strip 7. In folded position the crate is held against expansion by suitable straps 17, secured, respectively, to the inner surface of the hinged edges of the top and bottom and extending across the folded crate and secured removably on pins 18, carried by the opposing free edge of the top and bottom, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3. When the crate is expanded, these straps are within the crate, as shown in Fig. 1.

' 18 18 designate two rods having angularlyextending ends, which are seated in suitable vertically-extending openings 19, formed in the strips 6, as shown in Fig. 8. These rods are located at the bottom of the crate, and connecting the strips 6 6 form braces which prevent the placing of endwise strain on the hinged connections 6. These rods in addition, however, serve to form what I term a false bottom that is, a means additional to the bottom 11-for supporting the contents. WVhen the crate is in expanded position, one of the trays is placed on the rods and then the cell structure is placed thereon. When the eggs are placed in position, the tray is held out of contact with the bottom 11, and as said rods preferably lie slightly out of contact with the bottom there may be a slight springy movement, although this is not necessary, the yielding of tray which is allowed by the open space between the rods being sufficient for As the ends of said rod extend in the same direction as the hinged connec tions heretofore described, it will be obvious that as the crate is folded these rods will be brought closer together and in folded position lie substantially side by side, as shown in Figs. 2 and 3, and in this position said rods form a bottom to retain the cells within the crate additional to that due to the presence of the strips 6 6. As there is no necessity for ICC the removal of said rods, a simple connection, such as that shown, will be all that will be required. If desired, similar rods 20 may be employed for the top. In this-case, as the rods must be capable of removal for the purpose of refilling and emptying the crate, different mountingsare provided, one form of which is shown in Fig. I). In this form the rod is provided with a curved end, as shown in Fig. 10, which is slipped into suitable eyes 21, the end preventing the dropping out of the rods when the crate is turned upside down. These rods as arranged in the drawings would permit the folding of the crate in one direction, so that in folded position the cells would be held in position within the case by the auxiliary or false top and bottom, and in expanded position these would form supports which would effectually prevent the vertical movement of the contents auxiliary to the top 8 and bottom 11.

It is to be understood, of course, that any other arrangement for mounting the rods 18 and 20 may be provided so long as they will have a movement which allows them to be folded with the crate, retaining their relative positions therein, and permits the rods 20 being removed, and I do not desire to limit myself to the number of said rods used, it being evident that as many of them will be used as may be found necessary in the premises.

WVhen the crate is being shipped empty, the trays are removed from between the cells and are placed between the ends of the cells and the ends of the crate, as shown in dotted lines in Fig. 4, extending vertically along the in ner surfaces of the ends. The top and bottom are in their folded positions, as hereinbefore described, while the cells are themselves folded and superposed in the same relative positions as when the crate is expanded.

When it is desired to refill the crate, the straps are unfastened and the bottom allowed to fall. The crate is then raised and the bottom pushed under the bottom edges of the sides and end and the crate then expanded by moving the sides away from each other. During this movement the cells are also expanded, and the false bottom prevents their change of position. The bottom is then secured in position by placing the bolts in their recesses. The false top is now removed, to gether with the cells and the trays. The filling process then begins by first placing a tray on the false bottom followed by the cell construction, which is filled. Then another tray is placed in position, followed by the cell construction in the usual manner. This is continued until the crate is filled. A tray is placed on top of the upper layer of eggs, the false top placed in position, and the top 8 se" cured by its bolt-s. In emptying and folding the crate the top is first opened by withdrawing the bolts, after which the false top is laid aside. As the successive layers of eggs are removed the cell and tray constructions are laid aside until crate is empty. When empty,

the cells are replaced without the trays, the latter being placed at the end, as described, and the false top placed in position. The crate is then turned and the bottom released by withdrawing the bolts. With the release of the top and bottom the crate can be collapsed by moving the sides toward each other, the division 13 and the rods 18 and 20l1aving movements corresponding with the ends and sides, respectively, the top and bottom folded into position, and the straps secured. This corresponding movement of the division and the rods is due to the fact that the divisionis pivotally connected to the sides and extends in a direction parallel with the ends, while the rods are pivotally connected to the ends and arranged parallel with the sides. Therefore when the crate is expanded, the ends and sides being at substantial right angles to each other, the division and the rods will have the same relation, and any movement of the crate in the direction toward and from its folded position will move the pivot-points of the division and rods in such manner as to still retain the parallelism between the rods andthe sides and the division-plate and the ends, while the angular relationship between the division-plate and the rods will change in the same proportion as the change in angles of the sides and ends. As any movement of the sides relative to each other is on the princie ple of the parallel ruler, the division-plate, being parallel with the ends, must have a movement corresponding with and parallel with the ends, and the same is true of the rods relatively to the sides.

It will be understood, of course, that when in expanded position the trays will aid to some extent in preventing the collapsing of the crate.

It will be readily understood, of course, that other forms of a false top or bottom may be provided-such, for instance, as the substitution of wooden strips hingedly connected to the ends or other suitable point in place of the rods on the bottom, or the substitution of chains-having spring-tension devices or without such tension devices for the top bars, or instead of chains ropes might be used. I mention these modifications in order to show that while the rods specified may be a pref= erable form of false top and bottom, yet they do not form the only constructions which will serve the purpose, and it will be further understood that the terms false bottom and false top include these various modifications, it being my desire to protect myself in the use of any suitable means which will form a false bottom carried by and foldable with the crate, as well as a false top removably carried by and foldable with the crate.

Other changes and modifications may be made, and I desire to hereby protect myself in such modifications in so far as they may fall within the spirit and scope of the inven tion as expressed in. the claims hereunto appended.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new is- 1. A foldable egg-crate comprising side and end walls hingedly connected at their meeting edges and adapted to be folded, the hinge connections being at the inner meeting edges, and a top and a bottom hingedly connected to the sides and each foldable in a direction to lie substantially parallel with and outside of the side to which it is connected, the lower edges of the sides being supported independently of the support afforded by the bottom.

2. A foldable egg-crate comprising sideand end walls hingedly connected at their meeting edges and adapted to be folded, the hinge connections being at the inner meeting edges, a top and a bottom hingedly connected to the sides and each foldable in a direction to lie substantially parallel with and outside of the side to'which it is connected, the lower edges of the sides being supported independently of the support afforded by the bottom; and a plate or division reniovabl y and hingedly connected to said sides, midway of the ends, said division being movable with the folding movement of the sides and ends.

3. A foldable eggcrate comprising side and end walls hingedly connected at their meeting edges and adapted to be folded, theheight of the ends being greater than that of the sides, the top edges of the sides and ends being flush; strips carried by the ends adapted to support the lower edges of the sides; handle-strips carried by the ends and projecting above the top edges of the sides; a top hingedly connected to one of said sides and adapted to be secured in position between said handlestrips; and a bottom hingedly secured to the opposite side and movable to a position intermediate said bottom strips, said top and bottom each being foldable in a direction to lie substantially parallel with and outside of the side to which it is attached.

4. In an egg-crate foldable in the direction of its length, a false bottom carried by and foldable with said crate.

5. In a foldable egg-crate, a series of rods extending lengthwise of the interior of the crate, and mounted to have movement with the crate when being folded, whereby said rods will serve as supports auxiliary to the cover.

6. A foldable egg-crate having sides and ends, and also having independent and nonconnected devices intermediate the connections of said sides and ends and extending respectively laterally and longitudinally of the crate for holding the sides and ends in relative parallelism in folded position and otherwise.

7. A foldable egg-crate having sides and ends hingedly connected at their meeting edges, and having independent and non-connecting devices located intermediate the connections and extending in parallelism with,

respectively, the sides and ends of the crate,-

said devices being foldable with the sides and ends and retaining the relative parallelism thereof during the folding movement.

. 8. In an egg-crate foldable in the direction of its length, a false top and a false bottom, each carried by and foldable with said crate.

9. In a foldable egg-crate, a false bottom carried by and foldable with said crate; and

a false top, removably secured in said crate, said top having a corresponding movement with said bottom during the folding operation.

10. In a foldable egg-crate, a series of rods extending longitudinally of the crate above the bottom; and a series of rods located be low the top of the crate and running parallel with the lower rods, said upper rods being removably secured within the crate, said rods being foldable with said crate.

In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand in the presence of two witnesses.

FRANK O. EDSON.

Witnesses:

J. C. RUSSELL, W. H. RUSSELL. 

